After several VR projects within the framework of my PhD, I moved towards a more intimate, autobiographical form with Quand le cœur se serre, my first deeply personal VR experience. Created in artistic direction with Katia Morel, and codeveloped with Jordan Clément and Lucas Falcon, the work used a heart-rate sensor to weave the spectator’s physiological state directly into the narrative flow.
Here, the research focus shifted: beyond guiding attention and perception, we sought to translate inner sensations into immersive dramaturgy. The player’s heartbeat became both a trigger and a mirror, shaping the pacing, visuals, actions and soundscape in real time. This allowed us to explore how VR could convey vulnerability, emotional memory, and the unspoken rhythms of the body, blurring the line between spectator and performer.